New Technologies for Archaeology: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Palpa and Nasca, Peru PDF
Preview New Technologies for Archaeology: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Palpa and Nasca, Peru
Chapter 1 Introduction – New Methods and Technologies of Natural Sciences for Archaeological Investigations in Nasca and Palpa, Peru MarkusReindelandGu¨ntherA.Wagner 1.1 Natural Sciences in Archaeology Applicationsofnaturalsciencesinarchaeologyhaveactuallyalongtradition. Inparticularthechemicalcompositionofmetalartefactswassporadicallyused formorethantwohundredyears,mainlyforthepurposeofmaterialclassifica- tion.OneoftheearliestexamplesisthequantitativeanalysisofRomancoinsin 1799byMartinHeinrichKlaprothinBerlin,achemistwhoisbetterknownas the discoverer of the element uranium. Based on the material composition of dominant remains, the Danish archaeologist Christian Ju¨rgensen Thomsen formallyintroducedinthe1820sthethree-age systemofprehistoricarchaeol- ogyintothreeconsecutivetimeperiods:theStoneAge,theBronzeAge,andthe IronAge. Especiallyduringthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury,naturalscientific approaches in archaeology experienced a nearly explosive increase. It became obviousthat,whentryingtoreconstructthepastascomprehensivelyaspossi- ble, the archaeologist needs to take into consideration all sources of relevant information including those which are hidden to the naked eye, being the foremost tool of an archaeologist’s perception, and which are only revealed by scientific studies. Terms such as ‘science-based archaeology’ or simply ‘archaeometry’ are used for this new discipline. Originally coined in 1958 as thetitleforajournal(M.Aitken,inOlin,1982,p.142)andsubsequentlyalso usedforaninternationalsymposium,‘archaeometry’wasincreasinglyadapted withinthepastfewdecadesforthisfieldofresearch.Itisacknowledgedinthe meantime by most archaeologists as an indispensable and integral part of archaeology. M.Reindel(*) GermanArchaeologicalInstitute(DAI),CommissionforArchaeologyofNon-European Cultures(KAAK),Du¨renstraße35-37,53173Bonn,Germany e-mail:[email protected] M.Reindel,G.A.Wagner(eds.),NewTechnologiesforArchaeology, 1 NaturalScienceinArchaeology,DOI10.1007/978-3-540-87438-6_1, (cid:2)Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2009 Natural Science in Archaeology Serieseditors:B.Herrmann,G.A.Wagner Markus Reindel Gu¨nther A. Wagner (Eds.) l New Technologies for Archaeology Multidisciplinary Investigations in Palpa and Nasca, Peru With223Figuresand30Tables 1 3 VolumeEditors Dr.MarkusReindel Prof.Dr.Gu¨ntherA.Wagner DeutschesArcha¨ologisches GeographischesInstitut Universita¨tHeidelberg Institut ImNeuenheimerFeld348 Kommissionfu¨rArcha¨ologie 69120Heidelberg Außereuropa¨ischerKulturen Germany (KAAK) [email protected] Du¨renstr.35-37 53173Bonn Germany [email protected] SeriesEditors Prof.Dr.BerndHerrmann Prof.Dr.Gu¨ntherA.Wagner Universita¨tGo¨ttingen GeographischesInstitut Institutfu¨rAnthropologie Univesita¨tHeidelberg Bu¨rgerstraße40 ImNeuenheimerFeld348 37073Go¨ttingen 69120Heidelberg Germany Germany [email protected] [email protected] ISBN:978-3-540-87437-9 e-ISBN:978-3-540-87438-6 DOI10.1007/978-3-540-87438-6 LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2008936494 NaturalScienceinArchaeologyISSN:1613-9712 #Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2009 Thisworkissubjecttocopyright.Allrightsarereserved,whetherthewholeorpartofthematerialis concerned,specificallytherightsoftranslation,reprinting,reuseofillustrations,recitation,broad- casting,reproductiononmicrofilmorinanyotherway,andstorageindatabanks.Duplicationofthis publicationorpartsthereofispermittedonlyundertheprovisionsoftheGermanCopyrightLawof September9,1965,initscurrentversion,andpermissionforusemustalwaysbeobtainedfrom Springer.ViolationsareliabletoprosecutionundertheGermanCopyrightLaw. Theuseofgeneraldescriptivenames,registerednames,trademarks,etc.inthispublicationdoesnot imply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesareexemptfromtherelevant protectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. TheresearchprojectreportedinthisbookwasfinancedbytheGermanFederalMinistryofEducation andResearchunderthegrantno.03REX1VP.Theauthorsareresponsibleforthecontentsofthis publication. Coverpicture:GeoglyphsontheSacramentoridge,SWofthetownofPalpa.InstituteofGeodesyand Photogrammetry,ETHZurich Coverdesign:deblik,Berlin Printedonacid-freepaper 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springer.com Preface In2002themultidisciplinaryresearchproject‘‘Nasca:developmentandadaptation of archaeometric techniques for the investigation of cultural history’’ (Nasca: Entwicklung und Adaption archa¨ometrischer Techniken zur Erforschung der Kulturgeschichte) started, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education andResearch(Bundesministeriumfu¨rBildungundForschung,BMBF)initspriority program ‘‘New scientific methods and technologies for the humanities’’ (Neue Naturwissenschaftliche Methoden und Technologien fu¨r die Geisteswissenschaften, NTG).Thisnewprojectcontinuedandinacertainwayfulfilledalastinggoalof the ministry to integrate different branches of scientific activities and to foster the transfer of expertise gained in natural sciences to the humanities and vice versa. Archaeometry, by definition the application of scientific methods in archaeologicalinvestigation,hasbeenamajorfocusofthepriorityprogramsince itsbeginningsin1989. After funding numerous fruitful research projects that developed new archaeometric techniques mostly in bilateral cooperation, an even greater outcomewasexpectedfromamoremultifacetedapproachwiththeparticipation ofvariousscientificdisciplinesaroundawell-defined,archaeologicalresearchtopic. Furthermore,itwasintendedtoestablishaprojectoutsidethetraditionalresearch areasincentralEuropeortheMediterranean.Itwasthegreatmeritoftheperson formerlyinchargeoftheBMBFpriorityprogram,Dr.EdgarPusch,todevelop thesefar-reachingperspectivesandweareextremelygratefulthatafterarigorous screeningourprojectamongotherinterestingoneswasselectedforfunding. Our project was in a favourable situation because it met precisely the requirements defined by the BMBF, having developed a challenging research design centered on the puzzling problem of the Nasca lines in the desert of southern coastal Peru. The initial archaeological steps were financed by the Swiss-LiechtensteinFoundationforArchaeologicalResearchAbroad(SLSA) andwearenotonlygratefulforthissupportofthearchaeologicalactivities,but evenmoreforthisuniqueopportunitytodevelopakeyprojectwhichinmany waysbecameexemplaryandtrend-settingforfutureresearchactivities.Wealso received very valuable financial support from the Japan Maria Reiche Fund, whichenabledustobuildalittlemuseuminthecenterofPalpawherewecan nowpresenttheresultsofourscientificworktothepublic. v vi Preface Wewerealwayssupportedandassistedintheorganizationandmanagement oftheprojectbytheproject-executinginstitutionattheResearchCenterJu¨lich, especially its representatives, Dr. Hans-Joachim Krebs and Dr. Sabine Gerhard. It was their idea to organize not only meetings and workshops in Germany, but also a field conference directly in the research area, in Palpa, where the base camp of our field campaigns was located. Five days of very intensive talks and discussions and the following excursion with about 70 participants of the field conference, among them the project members, Peruvian partners and colleagues, and international specialists from many different countries, reflected very well the special spirit of this project group: theconcentrationofknowledgeinaninterdisciplinaryprojectindirectcontact withtheareasofresearchyieldedanexceedinglyhighoutputofscientificresults inanexcellentworkingatmosphere. Atthispointweasthecoordinatorsandatthesametimetheeditorsofthis volume,whichconstitutesthefinalreportofourresearchproject,wouldliketo thankallourGerman,Swiss,Peruvian,andotherinternationalcolleaguesfor theirdedicatedworkinthisveryproductivecooperativeefforttodevelopnew methodsandtechnologiesforarchaeologicalinvestigationandtoadvancethe knowledgeoftheancientSouthAmericancultures. In Peru we always received optimal support from the authorities and the cooperatinginstitutions.WeareindebtedtotheNationalInstituteforCultural Heritage(InstitutoNacionaldeCultura,INC)foralwayshandlingthepermits for our archaeological investigations in a nonbureaucratic and effective manner, and we especially thank the former director of the INC, Dr. Luis Guillermo Lumbreras, for his steady support of and interest in our project. WealsothankourdirectpartnersattheregionaldepartmentoftheINC,Rube´n Garcı´aandSusanaArce,fortheirveryfriendlyandeffectivecooperation. Therealizationofthehighgoalsofourproject,sometimesresultinginavery tightworkingschedule,wouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthesupportofthe German embassy, which not only aided at the administrative level, but also enabled the logistics; exchanging research equipment and samples for the analyses in laboratories in Germany were crucial for the success of this project. We are especially grateful to the ambassador Dr. Roland Kliesow and the attache´ for cultural affairs, Jens Urban, for their support and sincere interestaswellastheirvisitstoPalpaandparticipationinpublicactivitiesofthe projectinLimaandPalpa. OurspecialthanksgotoourPeruviancolleaguesandfriendsinNascaand Palpa,fortheirhospitalityandfortheirpatiencewhileintroducingustotheir fascinating world and showing us the enigmas of their pre-Hispanic history. Without their knowledge and careful observations, but also the ability to assimilate quickly new skills and at the same time to adapt to the sometimes seemingly strange behavior of the ‘‘gringos’’ who populated the Palpa valleys forashorttimeevery year,theycontributed agreatdealtothesuccess ofthe project. Our host for several years at the Fundo Jauranga, merits special mention: Don Oscar Tijero, who not only followed our research activities Preface vii with special interest, but also transmitted to us his fascination for the local historyandmotivatedsomeofthemostsuccessfularchaeologicalactivitiesof theproject. Insummary,afterfiveyearsofintenseresearchactivitieswithamultitudeof scientific results, new insights into Andean history, the development of new technologies for archaeology being useful also in other regions of the world, countless publications in different disciplines, public presentations and documentaries on radio and television,thepeopleofPalpawillbe astonished when they realize that the slogan they coined many years ago for their little forgottendeserttown,turnsouttobequiteaccurate:Palpaesma´sdeloquete imaginas(Palpaismorethanyoucanimagine). BonnandHeidelberg MarkusReindel August2008 Gu¨ntherWagner Contents 1 Introduction–NewMethodsandTechnologiesofNaturalSciences forArchaeologicalInvestigationsinNascaandPalpa,Peru ....... 1 MarkusReindelandGu¨ntherA.Wagner PartI Geoarchaeology 2 ManandEnvironmentintheEasternAtacamaDesert(SouthernPeru): HoloceneClimateChangesandTheirImpactonPre-Columbian Cultures ............................................... 17 BernhardEitelandBertilMa¨chtle 3 BuiltonSand:ClimaticOscillationandWaterHarvestingDuring theLateIntermediatePeriod ............................... 39 BertilMa¨chtle,BernhardEitel,GerdSchukraftandKatharinaRoss PartII Geophysics 4 BeneaththeDesertSoil–ArchaeologicalProspecting withaCaesiumMagnetometer.............................. 49 Jo¨rgW.E.FassbinderandTomaszH.Gorka 5 QuantumDetectionMeetsArchaeology–MagneticProspection withSQUIDs,HighlySensitiveandFast...................... 71 SvenLinzen,VolkmarSchultze,AndreasChwala,TimSchu¨ler, MarcoSchulz,RonnyStolzandHans-GeorgMeyer 6 ViewingtheSubsurfacein3D:SedimentTomographyfor (Geo-)ArchaeologicalProspectioninPalpa,SouthernPeru........ 87 StefanHecht ix x Contents 7 TheFieldofSherds:ReconstructingGeomagneticFieldVariations fromPeruvianPotsherds .................................. 103 FlorianStark,RomanLeonhardt,Jo¨rgW.E.Fassbinder andMarkusReindel PartIII Bioarchaeology 8 FromHunterstoRegionalLords:FuneraryPracticesinPalpa,Peru.. 119 JohnyIslaCuadrado 9 TalkingBones:BioarchaeologicalAnalysisofIndividualsfromPalpa.. 141 ElsaTomastoCagigao 10 WhoWeretheNasca?PopulationDynamicsinPre-Columbian SouthernPeruRevealedbyAncientDNAAnalyses.............. 159 LarsFehren-Schmitz,SusanneHummelandBerndHerrmann 11 HumansandCamelidsinRiverOasesoftheIca–Palpa–NazcaRegion inPre-HispanicTimes–InsightsfromH-C-N-O-S-SrIsotope Signatures ............................................. 173 PeterHorn,StefanHo¨lzl,SusanneRummel,Go¨ranA˚ berg, SolveigSchiegl,DanielaBiermann,UlrichStruck andAndreasRossmann 12 TheNascaandTheirDearCreatures–MolecularGeneticAnalysis ofPre-ColumbianCamelidBonesandTextiles ................. 193 RebeccaRenneberg,SusanneHummelandBerndHerrmann PartIV Archaeochronometry 13 OfLayersandSherds:AContext-BasedRelativeChronology oftheNascaStylePotteryfromPalpa........................ 207 NielsHecht 14 TheClockintheCornCob:OntheDevelopmentofaChronology oftheParacasandNascaPeriodBasedonRadiocarbonDating .... 231 IngmarUnkelandBerndKromer 15 ColdLightfromtheSedimentsofaHotDesert:HowLuminescence DatingShedsLightontheLandscapeDevelopmentoftheNortheastern Atacama............................................... 245 AnnetteKadereit,SteffenGreilich,ClemensWodaand Gu¨ntherA.Wagner Contents xi 16 LightThrownonHistory–TheDatingofStoneSurfacesatthe GeoglyphsofPalpaUsingOpticallyStimulatedLuminescence ..... 271 SteffenGreilichandGu¨ntherA.Wagner PartV Geomatics 17 VirtualArchaeology–NewMethodsofImage-Based3DModeling .. 287 ArminGruen 18 VirtualFlightOvertheNascaLines–AutomatedGeneration ofaPhotorealisticallyTextured3DModelofthePampadeNasca.. 307 MartinSauerbier 19 ContextMatters:GIS-BasedSpatialAnalysisoftheNasca GeoglyphsofPalpa ...................................... 321 KarstenLambersandMartinSauerbier 20 AModelHelicopterOverPinchangoAlto–ComparisonofTerrestrial LaserScanningandAerialPhotogrammetry ................... 339 HenriEisenbeiss 21 PerspectivesandContrasts:DocumentationandInterpretation ofthePetroglyphsofChichictara,UsingTerrestrialLaserScanning andImage-Based3DModeling ............................. 359 PeterFux,MartinSauerbier,ThomasKersten,MarenLindstaedt andHenriEisenbeiss 22 PotteryPlottedbyLaser–3DAcquisitionforDocumentation andAnalysisofSymmetryofAncientCeramics................. 379 HubertMara PartVI Archaeometallurgy 23 GoldinSouthernPeru?PerspectivesofResearchintoMining Archaeology............................................ 393 ThomasSto¨llner 24 FingerprintsinGold...................................... 409 SandraSchlosser,RobertKovacs,ErnstPernicka,DetlefGu¨nther andMichaelTellenbach
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